Emergency is defined as a situation where life and/or property is in immediate danger. Please call 911 to report situations such as traffic accidents with injuries, any medical emergency, burglaries to vehicles, residences, businesses or robberies occurring now or just occurred (defined as "in-progress"), domestic violence, any situation involving a weapon, etc. If you are in doubt, call 911. If it is not an emergency, the 911 dispatcher will give you the non-emergency number to the police, fire or sheriff's department. This allows the 911 lines to stay open for emergencies.

DON'T HANG UP!Tell the 911 operator what happened: you were dialing long distance, the automatic dialer button was accidentally pushed, etc. If you hang up we must re-contact you to make sure everything is ok. If your telephone line is busy or we don't get an answer we will send a Police Officer or a Sheriff's Deputy (if you live outside Midland city limits) to your residence to make sure everything is ok.

GIVE THE DISPATCHER YOUR LOCATIONMidland PSAP can receive cellular phone calls from 17 surrounding counties. At this time the Enhanced 911 ANI/ALI (Automatic Number Identifier/Automatic Location Identifier) system is unable to give the locations of cellular calls. After you tell us what type of response you are needing, please give us a location: the name of the city, a mile marker on the interstate highway, a highway name, etc. so we will transfer you to the correct responding agency. Please do not hang up, we will stay on the line with you until the transfer is completed.

Dispatchers ask a standard set of questions to prioritize your call and determine the response you need. After the dispatcher verifies the location with you, a response is already on the way. The dispatcher knows the address you are calling from, but does not know the address where you need help sent to until you verify that address. You must then answer the additional questions to further help the law enforcement officers, the fire department or the paramedics. The dispatcher relays the pertinent information by radio to the responding units prior to their arrival at the scene. This increases the chances of survival of a medical patient or injured person or the prevention of a crime and/or the apprehension of a suspect.

A dog is considered at large, or loose, when it is outside of a secure enclosure. That enclosure is usually a back yard, as long as a fence or dog run can keep the dog from getting out. A dog is considered to be at large even if it is in your front yard, if that yard does not have a secure enclosure which can prevent the dog from escaping.

Homeowners are allowed to put traps on their property. A cat trap may be picked up at the Midland Animal Shelter. A $75 deposit is required and the trap must be returned Friday. Cat traps can also be purchased at local hardware and feed stores. Animal Services will remove animals from our own traps as well as those that are privately owned.

A spay/neuter voucher is available to any City of Midland resident, is worth $70 toward toward the cost of a spay/neuter procedure, and can be used at any veterinary clinic or hospital in Midland County. You may pick up a voucher during our normal shelter hours and you will need to have the following items with you at the time the voucher is issued. 1. Your pet wearing a current city license. 2. A copy of the rabies vaccination certificate, issued by your veterinarian. 3. Proof that you live in the city limits of Midland. A drivers license is not acceptable. 4. The surgery must be scheduled, as the voucher is good for a period of two weeks from date of issue.

No, but a licensed veterinarian does come to the shelter on a daily basis and gives a rabies vaccination to any dog or cat that is adopted, reclaimed, or transferred and does not have proof of being currently vaccinated. The rabies vaccination is required by Texas Health and Safety Code 826.

Yes, Code Compliance will remove graffiti (at no cost to the property owner) with the submission of a Graffiti Abatement and Indemnity Agreement. The form can be obtained at the Code Compliance Office on the 4th floor, suite 430, at City Hall (300 N. Loraine); or by contacting 432-685-7410.

Yes, To sign up for eBilling or eNotification, go to "Pay My Bill" then log in and click the "Manage eBilling" link on the left side of the page. Select your delivery option, enter your email, and submit. "Pay My Bill"

The current combine sales tax rate is 8% as of October 1, 2017 and is broken down as follows: City Sales Tax Rate = 1.00% Midland Development Corporation = .25% County Sales Tax Rate = .50% State Sales Tax = 6.25%

To obtain a fire or EMS record, please call 432-685-7495 during business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To obtain a motor vehicle accident report, please call the Midland Police Department at 432-685-7108.

To schedule a group visit to your local fire station, please call 432-685-7332. Families and small groups may visit Central Fire Station without an appointment during business hours outside of 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Firefighter hopefuls may apply for the Fire Recruit position when it is visible on the City of Midland’s job opportunities page at www.midlandtexas.gov/jobs.

Recruits are required to attend assigned training and become certified firefighters with the Texas Commission Fire Protection and certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services as an EMT within one year of employment.

Applicants must have at least 15 hours of college credit within the last five years or have obtained minimum scoring levels on college admittance tests. Preference will be given to those applicants who hold the following current certifications:

In addition to the application, candidates must pass a general knowledge written test and firefighter entry-level physical agility test that includes tasks similar to those used in day-to-day tasks. This will be followed by an in-person interview. Interested applicants are encouraged to check the job posting for more qualifications and information.

Midland College runs a firefighter academy annually as well as EMT and Paramedic programs. For more information, please contact Mark Kuhn at 432-685-6757 or visit www.midland.edu.

The International Fire Code requires 10 feet of clearance between open flame cooking appliances and combustible surfaces or structures in non-sprinklered multi-family occupancies. Most apartment patios and balconies do not permit the required clearance. Management may prohibit any open flame appliances as part of your lease agreement.

Smoke detector batteries should last at least one year under normal conditions.

Residential fire deaths have decreased steadily as the number of homes with smoke detectors has increased. Reports from the National Fire Protection Association on residential fire deaths show that people have nearly a 50 percent better chance of surviving a fire if their home has the recommended number of smoke detectors.

Smoke detectors that are 10 years old are near the end of their service life and should be replaced. A smoke detector monitors the air 24 hours a day. At the end of 10 years, it has gone through over 3.5 million monitoring cycles. After this much use, components may become less reliable. This means that as the detector gets older, the potential of failing to detect a fire increases. Replacing them after 10 years reduces this possibility.

Once stamped plans have been returned to the contractor, the fire inspector’s name and phone number will be listed on the plan's cover sheet. All fire protection systems shall be pretested before an inspection is scheduled.

Possession and discharge of fireworks within the city limits or within 5,000 feet of the city limits is prohibited by law.

Any firework that must be ignited by a heat source is illegal to possess or discharge. Small items such as "poppers" are not prohibited. Individuals are subject to confiscation of all fireworks found in their possession and a fine up to $2,000 plus court costs.

Fireworks also may not be discharged on federal, state, or county roadways. If individuals plan to discharge fireworks on private property not belonging to them, they must have a written letter of permission from the land owner.

The Midland Fire Department also reminds citizens to use caution when discharging fireworks. Eye and burn injuries are common among children, and they should be supervised by an adult. Devices such as sparklers may reach temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees.

Grass fires are another potential risk during fireworks season. Have at least one of the following extinguishing agents available while discharging fireworks: water, sand or dirt, or a portable fire extinguisher. Never hesitate to call 911 if a fire develops.

Normally, a minimum of 72 hours is required to scheduled an appointment to witness a system test. If a fire code official is available, the time frame may be shorter. Please call 432-685-7333 to schedule an appointment.

In buildings where an automatic sprinkler system or fire alarm is required by code, it shall be unlawful to occupy any portion of a building or structure until the automatic sprinkler system and fire alarm system have been tested and approved.

A partial permit of stock and merchandise may be issued on the agreement of both the fire code official and the building code official only after all fire protection systems have been tested and approved.

A Knox Box shall be placed on all occupancies with a fire alarm system or fire sprinkler system that initiates an automatic fire department response. A Knox Box may be ordered directly from the Knox Corporations at knoxbox.com.

The Midland Fire Marshal's Office does not maintain a fee schedule or require any fees for Fire Alarm Systems, Fire Sprinkler Systems and/or any plans submitted for review by the Midland Fire Department Fire Marshal Office.

For questions about code enforcement, building codes, construction permits and fees/fee schedules for other departments within the City of Midland, please contact City of Midland's Code Division at 432-685-7391.

If you believe you have become ill from eating at a restaurant or other food establishment, contact your local health department. The health department is an important part of the food safety system, call (432) 681-7613 or report online at MidlandHealth@MidlandTexas.gov.

First you must have access to a location that is zoned for that activity. Then, you must complete the City of Midland Certificate of Occupancy requirements. To complete this requirement, go to the City of Midland Development Service Department Code Administration Division at 300 N. Loraine Street Midland, TX 79702 and ask the clerks for assistance. Finally, you must purchase a Food Establishment Permit from City of Midland Health Department at 3303 W Illinois Sp 22. If you need more information on how to start up a food establishment call the City of Midland Health Department at (432) 681-7613

You are required to obtain a Mobile Food Vendor Permit for the vehicle. To obtain one, contact the City of Midland Health Department, (432) 681-7613.

Further, you must drive the vehicle which requires a license to the City of Midland Health Department for a inspection located at 3303 W Illinois Sp 22, ask the clerk for further assistance, as a vehicle inspection is required before the permit can be issued.In addition, to sell at a fixed location, you must do so on commercial property, with a notarized letter of permission from the property owner that also gives you access to restrooms on the property.

ImmTrac, the Texas Immunization Registry, is a no-cost service offered by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). It is a secure and confidential registry available to all Texans. ImmTrac safely consolidates and stores immunization information from multiple sources electronically in one centralized system. Texas law requires written consent for ImmTrac participation and limits access to the registry to only those individuals who have been authorized by law. ImmTrac contains over 120 million immunization records and continues to rapidly grow with increased participation.

The only permits required by Midland County are Septic System Permits. The City of Midland Health Department issues these. The telephone for the City of Midland Health Department number is (432) 681-7613.

We test Monday, Tuesday and Friday; the results are available three (3) days after the test. If you are tested on Monday, please check on Thursday for your results. If you are tested on Tuesday, please check on Friday for your results. If you are tested on Friday, please check on Monday for your results

Latent TB infection means that the bacteria which causes TB is present in the body, however it is not active. A person with latent TB infection will have no TB symptoms. A latent TB infection is not contagious.

You must appear during an arraignment session. No appointment is necessary. You should check in at least 15 minutes early at the cashier window. Be prepared to present your ID. No shorts are allowed in the courtroom.

You will be set for trial. You have the right to have a jury trial by six persons of this community. You may waive this option and have the case heard by a Municipal Judge. A judge or jury will determine the verdict of each case set for trial based on the merits of each individual case. If you do not wish to have a trial, you will need to enter a plea of "no contest" or "guilty".

You may pay your fine with cash, a cashier's check or money order. You may also pay your fine with a personal check, debit card or credit card as long as it reflects your name. If you are under the age of 18, we will accept a check, debit card or credit card from your parent. The parent must be available to sign the check or debit/credit card slip. If you are on warrant, you must pay with cash or money order.

No. You may make your payment at the cashier window during business hours. You may also mail your payment. A Night deposit is available 24 hours and is located at the back door of the Municipal Court building. Some citations may be paid online.

You can apply for a protective order if your abuser is one of the following:

A current or former spouse A sibling (brother or sister) A blood relative such as a parent A relative by marriage (an in-law) A person with whom you have a child in common A current roommate A former roommate A foster parent A foster child A person who you are dating or have dated

A person who has a divorce pending is eligible for a protective order. The protective order must be filed in the court in which the divorce is pending. You may also be able to get a protective order against someone who has sexually assaulted you even if they are not a family or household member (like a co-worker or neighbor).

Nothing, a protective order is free. You cannot be charged a fee for filing, serving, or entering a protective order. The court may order that your abuser pay any attorney fees (if applicable), and all other fees, charges, or expenses incurred in connection with the protective order.

A Temporary Ex Parte Order is a court order designed to provide you and your family members with immediate protection from your abuser. In order to get a Permanent Protective Order, you need to have a full court hearing with your abuser present. A Temporary Ex Parte Order will protect you from the time you file for the Permanent Protective Order until your full court hearing.

You may receive a Temporary Ex Parte Order without your abuser present.

The court can issue a Temporary Ex Parte Order if it decides that the information given in your application for a protective order presents a clear and present danger of family violence to either you or a family member.

A Temporary Ex Parte Order lasts for the period of time specified in the order, usually until the date of your full court hearing. In most places the court will schedule a date for a formal hearing no later than the 14th day after the date the application is filed

A Permanent (or Final) Protective Order is a court order that is designed to stop violent and harassing behavior and to protect you and your family from the abuser.

A Permanent Protective Order is effective for the time period specified in the order up to a maximum of 2 years. If there is no time period specified in the order, then it expires on the second anniversary of the date the order was issued.

If the Respondent is still incarcerated on the date that the protective order is set to expire, then the expiration date is extended for one year from his date of release.

Yes. The Ride Out program is designed to give interested applicants a firsthand view of what police work is like in Midland, Texas. We recommend riding out on Friday or Saturday nights with an evening shift officer (3 p.m.-3 a.m.) or night shift officer (6 p.m.-6 a.m., 7 p.m.-7 a.m.). The ride along must be scheduled by contacting the recruiting division with at least a week notice.

Yes. Civilian positions like customer service clerk, evidence clerk, records clerk, crime scene technicians, and administrative assistant will open when there is a need to fill the position. Postings for those openings can be found on our

Our Public Information Act Coordinator, Tammi Casey, fills all open records requests. You can visit the City's Public Information page or learn more about open records laws on the Attorney General's website.

Submit a letter which contains the date of the damage, the location where the damage occurred, a description of the damage, what you are requesting from the City, and the property owner's name, phone number, and address. Include with your letter at least two estimates for repair or replacement of the damaged property and pictures of the damaged property. You may submit your claim to Risk Management by mail, email, or fax, or complete it online.

Members of the public who observe an unsafe condition relating to operations of the City of Midland should note the details of the condition (i.e. description of condition, location, vehicle number, time of observation) and contact the Risk Management Division.

Complete road closures are very rare. In most cases, traffic will be reduced to one lane rather than complete closure. Whenever construction moves into a new area, the City will issue an alert. These alerts will contain alternative route suggestions.

Public safety and well-being is of the utmost importance. The Engineering Department is coordinating closely with the US Postal Service, Waste Management, Police and Fire/EMS. Residents are encouraged to contact theU.S. Postal Serviceif they experience any delays in mail. Emergency Response services (Police, Fire, and EMS) will always be able to access your residence or business. Likewise, Waste Removal services will continue during road and utility work.

To report problems with Street Lights, call Oncor at 1-888-313-4747 or click on the link below. If Street Light is along Loop 250, call City of Midland Transportation Division at 432-685-7293. Report Street Light

Total Coliform is an indicator bacterium. When present, it indicates that the water tested may be contaminated with disease causing bacteria. Positive results will also be tested for E. coli, a specific coliform which is harmful when ingested by humans.

You may have low water pressure due to a cut off at meter not being completely open, a faulty water meter, a possible crimp in the service line, a water main leak in your area, isolated water valves on main water supply lines (not open), or restricted water supply through your water softener due to a clog. Please call 432-685-7270 to report low water pressure in your area.

When plumbers reference the "city side" of a sewer line, it is actually called a sewer tap. It extends from the resident/business property line to the point at which it makes contact with the main sewer supply line in alley/street. The sewer line from your property line to your house is your private service line.

You may have discolored water coming from your faucet due to excessive iron or manganese coming from the main water supply line, possible water main repairs in your area, or possible water valve maintenance in your area. Please contact Water & Wastewater at 432-685-7270 to report the issue if you notice discolored water coming out of your faucet.

Midland is currently contracted to use surface water sources owned by the Colorado River Municipal Water District. These sources are depleting due to the drought and evaporation. The addition of groundwater from T-Bar and Clearwater Ranches has secured many decades of more water for Midlanders, but the drought necessitates that we be good stewards of these sources.

The City of Midland’s primary water source is the Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD). This consists of Lakes Thomas, Spence, and Ivie. The Paul Davis Well Field is another water source, and T-Bar and Clearwater Ranches will most likely become the city's primary water sources in the future.

The smell of rotten eggs does not come from water, but rather from the sink's drain. The smell can be neutralized by pouring bleach down the drain and letting it sit overnight. Vinegar and baking soda works as a substitute for bleach.

The TCEQ also maintains a Drinking Water Watch website with information about the City of Midland's system at http://dww2.tceq.texas.gov/DWW/. Midland's information can be found by entering "1650001" into the field labeled "Water System No."